Hastings Live summer music series underway

Old favorites and new tunes will be heard at the Thornapple Plaza, Hastings Spray Plaza and the Barry County Courthouse lawn this summer as part of the Hastings Live summer concert series.

Hastings Live includes Hastings City Band, Community Concerts, Fridays at the Fountain, and Friday Night Features concerts, as well as the Playing at the Plaza children’s entertainment series.

The season opened this week with the first concert by the oldest group. The Hastings City Band, formed in 1857, gave its first concert of the summer Wednesday.

The stages are busy Wednesday through Friday evening, and this year’s schedule includes several tribute bands. So, area residents and visitors not only can enjoy the free concerts, they can hear the likes of Queen, Bob Seger, Tom Petty and the Beatles. Other times, guests can enjoy country, jazz, pop, oldies and more musical genres, depending on the date or the stage.

Friday Night Features

Fridays, 7:30 p.m.

Thornapple Plaza

The biggest Hastings Live concerts usually are the Friday Night Features.

These concerts showcase some of the region’s finest up-and-coming performers along with established artists. Friday Night Feature concerts start at 7:30 p.m. at the Thornapple Plaza. The rain venue will be announced.

The line-up includes:

June 14 - Valerie Barrymore and the Foundations of Funk.

June 21 - The Insiders, a Tom Petty tribute band.

June 28 — Josh Davis.

July 5 — Kari Lynch Band.

July 12 — Katmandu, a Bob Seger tribute band.

July 19 — The Accidentals.

July 26 — Nicholas James and the Bandwagon.

Aug. 2 — Luke Winslow-King.

Aug. 9 — Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band.

Aug. 16 — The Army Band.

Friday Night Features are sponsored by the Baum Family Foundation. Highpoint Community Bank is the special sponsor for The Accidentals.

Hastings City Band

Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.

Thornapple Plaza

Hastings City Band has been entertaining audiences for more than 150 years. All Hastings City Band are held on Wednesday at the Thornapple Plaza and start at 7:30 p.m. The rain venue will be announced.

The city band’s performance schedule includes:

June 5 — Beatles and jazz.

June 12 — A Night on Broadway.

June 19 — Disney Magic.

June 26 — marches.

July 3 — A Tribute to America.

Community Concerts

Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.

Thornapple Plaza

Community Concerts feature some of the area’s finest local talent. All Community Concerts are held on Wednesday evening at the Thornapple Plaza and start at 7:30 p.m. The rain venue will be announced. This year’s Community Concert line-up includes:

July 10 — The Blue Leafs.

July 17 — Dede and the Dream.

July 24 — Tyler Roy.

July 31 — Grumpy Old Men.

Aug. 7 — The Goldberrys.

Aug. 14 — The Dacia Bridges Project.

Aug. 21 — Geez Louise.

Fridays at the Fountain

Courthouse lawn, noon

Fridays at the Fountain concerts start at noon on the Barry County Courthouse lawn. In the event of inclement weather, the concerts will be canceled.

The line-up includes:

June 14 — Elvis James McKay.

June 21 — Hastings Heartbeats zydeco band.

June 28 — Daves @ 7.

July 5 — Kilkenny Corkers.

July 12 — Jessie Wolhuis.

July 19 — Chuck Whiting.

July 26 — Community Music School.

Aug. 2 — Jonah Evans.

Aug. 9 — David Lloyd.

Playing at the Plaza

Thursdays, 11 a.m.

Hastings Spray Plaza

Playing at the Plaza is a children’s music, entertainment and education series. Entertainment will include:

June 13 — mime Rob Reider.

June 20 — Cooperfly Puppet Troupe.

June 27 — Thornapple Players.

July 11 — John Ball Zoo.

July18 — Stormy the Magician.

July 25 — Drumming with Dede.

Aug. 1 — Hands and Feet Music.

Aug. 8 — Kalamazoo Exotic Animals.

Summerfest

Hastings Live at Summerfest is the last concert series of the summer. All concerts will be at the Thornapple Plaza Friday and Saturday Aug. 30 and 31. A rain venue will be announced.

The line-up includes:

Friday, Aug. 23

4-5 p.m. — Ellie Youngs.

5:30-7 p.m. — Jake Kershaw.

7:30-9 p.m. — Saved by the 90s.

Between sets: Clark Lewis.

Saturday, Aug. 24

2-3 p.m. — SilentBark.

3:30-5 p.m. — Toppermost-A Beatles tribute band.

5:30-7 p.m. — Kari Holmes.

7:30-9 p.m. — Simply Queen, a Queen tribute band.

Between sets: Expressions Dance Studio.

Hastings Live is funded in part by the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.